have the "accountants department" do their job and make the payments.

 

This quote above is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. I find it hard to believe that any employee has control over a department that you do not work in. The accounting department doesn't have any say to the vm's and vice versa...and that's in ANY business. No one can be 100% sure of anything in this market. All you can do is have faith in the people that you are working for that they will make ethical and moral decisions. I'm sure we can all agree that we've all had a few "carrots" dangled and no results followed. I think it's unfair to hold an employee of a company responsible for not paying an abstractor for their services. Even the accounting department cannot be held responsible. Hold the person responsible who signs the checks. THAT'S who ultimately decided whether to pay you, or not. I understand the abstractors anger at not being paid, I genuinly do, but when you make a promise to have a search back in 24 hours, and do not stay true to your promise should your name be tarnished on this site? I think you are looking for any outlet to lash out all your anger, and I understand that, but when you don't sign a check, and are getting the promise of payment from the person who ultimately signs yours, yes the "I was just an employee" defense is appropriate. I know being a VM you are the middleman, and sometimes I think we get the short end of the stick when these issues of non-payment, etc..arise.